The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms: how is the Old Testament divided?

Some people say that the Old Testament is divided into the Law and the Prophets, while others say it is divided into the Law and the Prophets and the Writings. Which is correct? What does the Bible have to say about the division of the Old Testament?

When Jesus spoke about the fulfillment of all things written in the Old Testament concerning Himself, He mentioned three divisions, “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms”.

Luk 24:44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

However, elsewhere Jesus mentioned two divisions, “the Law and the Prophets”. For example:

Mat 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Mat 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

It is of interest to note that Jesus didn’t say, “the Law”, but rather, “the Law of Moses”. “The Law of Moses” is quite specific, whereas, as we shall see, “the Law” is more general.

In considering this issue it is helpful to understand how the Jews divide the Old Testament.

Jewish division of the Old Testament

Tanakh

What Christians call the Old Testament, Jews call the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh. Jews organise the Tanakh into three divisions:

Tanakh is an acronym of the first Hebrew letter of each of the divisions: TaNaKh.

Torah

The Torah literally means “teaching” and is also known as the Pentateuch (from the Greek “five” + “books”). The torah comprises the first five books of the Bible:

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

Nevi’im

The Nevi’im means “prophets”. These are divided into the former prophets, the latter prophets, and the minor prophets.

The former prophets are:

Joshua
Judges
Samuel (1 and 2)
Kings (1 and 2)

The latter prophets are:

Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel

The minor prophets are:

Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

Note that the book of Daniel is not considered part of the prophets.

Ketuvim

The Ketuvim means “writings”. These are divided into the poetic books, the five Megillot, and the other books.

The poetic books are:

Psalms
Proverbs
Job

The five Megillot are:

Song of Songs
Ruth
Lamentations
Ecclesiastes
Esther

The other books are:

Daniel
Ezra
Nehemiah
Chronicles (1 and 2)

Biblical division of the Old Testament

The Bible doesn’t use the terms, Torah, Nevi’im, or Ketuvim. However, it is reasonable to think that the Jews of Christ’s time divided the Old Testament in the same or similar way the Jews do today. Although the Bible does not use the Jewish terms of Torah, Nevi’im, or Ketuvim, it does use the terms:

the Law of Moses
the Prophets
the Psalms
the Law

Let’s see how they are used in the Bible to gain further understanding on the division of the Old Testament.

The Law of Moses

The law of Moses is generally accepted to refer to the first five books of the Bible. There are several Scriptures which refer to the “law of Moses” and the “Book of the law of Moses” which help us understand what Jesus meant by “the law of Moses” in Luke 24:44.

Let’s first look at some references to the “Book of the law of Moses”. The first is found in Joshua.

Jos 8:31 as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

Not using a tool on the stones for the altar is a reference to Exodus 20:24-25 and Deuteronomy 27:5-6. The next reference to the “Book of the law of Moses” is found in 2 Kings.

2Ki 14:6 But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.”

This verse is quoting Deuteronomy 24:16. The last reference to the “Book of the law of Moses” is found in Nehemiah.

Neh 8:1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel.

From these Scriptures we can ascertain that the “Book of the Law of Moses” was a physical book (or rather a collection of scrolls) which contained, at the very least, portions of Exodus and Deuteronomy. It supports the view that the law of Moses is the first five books of the Bible.

Let’s now look at some references to the “law of Moses”.

Here are two verses which show that the law of Moses contains God’s statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies, which are found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

1Ki 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;

Mal 4:4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.

Here are another couple of verses which show that the law of Moses contains instructions concerning burnt offerings, which are found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Burnt offerings are also mentioned in Genesis.

2Ch 23:18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David.

Ezr 3:2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

The following verse shows that law of Moses contains instructions concerning priests sprinkling blood, which are found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

2Ch 30:16 They stood in their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites.

The following two verses in Daniel show that the law of Moses also includes the curses for disobedience which are found in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.

Dan 9:11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.

Dan 9:13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.

This verse shows that the laws of purification, which are found in Leviticus and Numbers, are part of the law of Moses.

Luk 2:22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

The next verse shows that the covenant of circumcision is part of the law of Moses. The covenant of circumcision is found in Genesis and instructions for it are also found in Leviticus.

Joh 7:23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

Finally, the law about not muzzling an Ox, Deuteronomy 25:4, is also part of the law of Moses.

1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT TREADS OUT THE GRAIN.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

The verses mentioning “the law of Moses” together reference, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This supports the view that “the law of Moses” is indeed the first five books of the Bible and corresponds exactly to “the Torah”.

The Prophets

Let’s look at references to “the Prophets”. The first is in Mark.

Mar 1:2 As it is written in the Prophets: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.”
Mar 1:3 “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'”

This is a quote from Malachi and Isaiah, meaning that Malachi and Isaiah are part of “the Prophets”.

Mal 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.

Isa 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.

The second reference is in John.

Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

This is a quote from Isaiah, showing again that Isaiah is part of “the Prophets”.

Isa 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children.

The third reference is in Acts.

Act 7:42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘DID YOU OFFER ME SLAUGHTERED ANIMALS AND SACRIFICES DURING FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?
Act 7:43 YOU ALSO TOOK UP THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH, AND THE STAR OF YOUR GOD REMPHAN, IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP; AND I WILL CARRY YOU AWAY BEYOND BABYLON.’

This is a quote from Amos, showing that Amos is part of “the Prophets”.

Amo 5:25 “Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
Amo 5:26 You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves.
Amo 5:27 Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.

The fourth reference is in Acts.

Act 13:40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
Act 13:41 ‘BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.’ “

This is a quote from Habakkuk, showing that Habakkuk is part of “the Prophets”..

Hab 1:5 “Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

The final reference is also in Acts.

Act 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
Act 15:16 ‘AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN AND WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH HAS FALLEN DOWN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL SET IT UP;
Act 15:17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THESE THINGS.’

This is a quote from Amos, showing again that Amos is part of “the Prophets”..

Amo 9:11 “On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” Says the LORD who does this thing.

When the Bible uses the term “the Prophets” it quotes from: Isaiah, Amos, Habakkuk, and Malachi. This is not a lot to go on, but it fits with the Jewish view of “the Prophets” covered earlier.

The Psalms

The exact phrase “the psalms” is only found once in the Bible, and that is when Jesus used it in Luke 24:44. However, “the Book of Psalms” is found twice.

Luk 20:42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, ” SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
Luk 20:43 TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL.”

This is a quote from Psalm 110:1.

Act 1:20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘LET HIS DWELLING PLACE BE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE LIVE IN IT’; and, ‘LET ANOTHER TAKE HIS OFFICE.’

This is a quote from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8.

This does not tell us what Jesus meant by “the Psalms”, but it indicates that the term “the book of Psalms” could be used to refer specifically to that one book of the Bible.

The Law

The “law” has quite a general meaning. For example, on occasions both Paul and James used the term “the law” when referring to the Ten Commandments.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”

Jas 2:11 For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Luke used the term “the law (of the Lord)” when quoting laws found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. So it seems he used the term “the law” to refer to the law of Moses (the first five books of the Bible).

Luk 2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “EVERY MALE WHO OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD” ),
Luk 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”

Jesus at times used the term “law” when referring to the Psalms.

Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I SAID, “YOU ARE GODS” ‘?

This is a reference to.

Psa 82:6 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.

Here is another example where the term “law” refers to the Psalms.

Joh 15:25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’

This is a reference to:

Psa 35:19 Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.

Psa 69:4 Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it.

The apostle Paul used the term “the law” when referring to Isaiah.

1Co 14:21 In the law it is written: “WITH MEN OF OTHER TONGUES AND OTHER LIPS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE; AND YET, FOR ALL THAT, THEY WILL NOT HEAR ME,” says the Lord.

This is a reference to .

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people,
Isa 28:12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear.

Remember that the Jews divide the Old Testament into, the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. How can “the law” in one place refer to Psalms (part of the Writings), and in another place refer to Isaiah (part of the Prophets)? The only conclusion is that the term “the law” is at times used to mean the Old Testament.

From looking at verses referring to the law we see that the term “the law”, can mean: the Ten Commandments, the law of Moses (the first five books of the Bible), or the Old Testament.

Conclusion

What can we conclude from the above discussion?

Let’s consider Luke 24:44 again where Jesus referred to “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms”.

“The Law of Moses” specifically refers to the first five books of the Bible. Jesus did not say, “the book of Psalms”, which would have excluded any other books in the Writings. Rather, Jesus said, “the Psalms”, which as the first and most prominent book in the Writings, is an obvious shorthand or alternative to “the Writings”. So it looks very much, that here, Jesus divided up the Old Testament in the same way (or very similar way) the Jews do today.

But what of the term “the Law and the Prophets”? It’s clear that this term refers to the whole of the Old Testament. Some good examples are Luke 16:16, John 1:14, and Acts 24:14.

Luk 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Joh 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Act 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

The question is, when the Old Testament is divided into “the Law and the Prophets”, where do “the Writings” fit? Are “the Writings” included in “the Law” because, as we’ve seen, “the Law” can be used in quite a general way? Or are “the Writings” included in “the Prophets” because anyone who wrote scripture was considered to have been a prophet?

As it turns out, there is a verse which answers this, Acts 28:23.

Act 28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.

Here we see the term “the Law of Moses and the Prophets” being used clearly to refer to the whole of the Old Testament. As we’ve seen, “The Law of Moses” specifically refers to the first five books of the Bible, which means, “the Prophets” refers to the rest. So when the Bible uses the term “the Law and the Prophets”, “the Writings” are included in “the Prophets”.

Let’s consider the question at the start, is the Old Testament is divided into “the Law and the Prophets”, or is it divided into “the Law and the Prophets and the Writings”? Now we can see that both are correct.

“The Law and the Prophets and the Writings” refers to the whole of the Old Testament divided into the law of Moses (the first five books of the Bible), the Prophets, and the Writings. As far as we can tell from Scripture, the definition of the Prophets and the Writings, is the same as (or certainly very similar to) the Jewish definition.

“The Law and the Prophets” also refers to the whole of the Old Testament divided into the law of Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and the Prophets. But here the Prophets is a broader term that includes the Writings.